How to Create a Custom Animation

Updated Today · 5 min read

In FMX for Windows, animations are video or image files that play at specific moments in the workflow — the welcome screen between sessions, the countdown before capture, the loading screen while AI processes, and the transitions between steps. A well-chosen animation sets the mood for the entire booth experience before a single photo is taken.

When Animations Are Used in FMX

Where in the workflow	What animation does there
Idle / attract screen	Loops between guest sessions to draw attention to the booth
Welcome / countdown	Plays behind or instead of the countdown before capture — sets the visual tone for the photo
AI preloader	Plays while Cloud AI processes the guest's photo — keeps guests engaged during the wait
Transition between steps	Brief animation that bridges two workflow steps (e.g., after capture, before preview)
Background / ambient	Looping video behind other steps using the Timeless animation type

Animation Types in FMX

FMX supports three animation modes, each with a different use case:

Single — plays one specific animation every time. Best for branded sessions where you want consistency.
Random — picks from a set of animations randomly each session. Great for variety at high-traffic events.
Timeless — loops seamlessly with no visible start or end. Best for ambient backgrounds that run continuously throughout a step.

→ See Animations in the Workflow Builder for how to configure these in the workflow editor.

Supported Formats and Specs

FMX for Windows accepts these animation formats:

MP4 — most common, excellent compression, widely supported. Use H.264 encoding.
MOV — supports an alpha (transparency) channel — use this for transparent animations that overlay the live camera feed
GIF — works for simple looping graphics but has limited color depth and larger file sizes than MP4
PNG and JPG — static images can also be used as animation steps

For exact dimensions, see Custom Assets Specifications. The standard starting point for mirror booths is 1080 × 1920 px (portrait).

Note: Transparent animations (MOV with alpha channel) require a specific export process. See Converting Video to a Transparent Format — Windows for the full steps.

Option 1: Generate with Foto Master Creative Studio AI (Built Into Cloud)

The fastest way to create a custom animation. Describe what you want — theme, movement, style — and the AI generates a 5-second video.

Log in to Foto Master Cloud and open your event's preset in the Workflow Builder
Add or select a Single Animation step
Click the Gear icon ⚙️ on the step and choose Select an Animation
Open the Create with AI tab
Describe the image you want generated (Stage 1), then describe the motion (Stage 2)
Optionally add a voiceover (Stage 3)
Download the animation and upload it to your Assets, or save directly to Assets → Creative Studio

Tip: In Stage 2, be specific about what moves and how — for example: "The background slowly zooms in, sparkles drift upward, the text glows softly." Vague descriptions produce generic results.

Option 2: Use the Foto Master Preset Library

Foto Master presets include themed animations ready to use — holiday themes, corporate styles, AI-branded experiences, and more. Loading a preset gives you a complete workflow with animations already in place, which you can then customise:

Replace the animation file with your own branded version
Adjust timing (how long the animation plays before advancing)
Change from Single to Random to add variety

This is the best approach when you need something polished fast and want to adapt rather than create from scratch.

Option 3: Create Your Own in External Software

For full creative control over movement, branding, and style:

Tool	Best for	Cost
Canva	Animated graphic designs, text animations, simple motion graphics. Export as MP4.	Free / Pro
Adobe After Effects	Professional motion graphics, transparent video (MOV with alpha), precise timing control	Paid
CapCut	Free video editor with templates and effects — fast for social-style animations	Free
DaVinci Resolve	Professional free video editor — Fusion tab supports motion graphics and alpha channel export	Free
Photopea	Creating frame-by-frame GIFs or static PNG assets that feed into a video	Free

Using AI video generators

AI video tools (Sora, Runway, Kling, Pika) can generate short animated clips from a text prompt or still image. These work well for:

Atmospheric welcome screens (flowing backgrounds, abstract motion)
Themed transitions (confetti, sparkles, brand-specific animations)
Preloader visuals where the AI "thinking" visual reinforces the AI experience

Export as MP4 (H.264) and upload directly to Foto Master Cloud Assets. For transparent animations, run the output through After Effects or DaVinci Resolve to add an alpha channel before exporting as MOV.

Making It Your Own: Ideas by Event Type

Event type	Animation idea
Corporate	Brand color gradient loop with company logo; subtle animated pattern matching event materials
Wedding	Soft bokeh lights, floating petals, or elegant typography animation with couple's names
Holiday party	Snow falling, festive lights twinkling, or animated wreath for Christmas; fireworks for New Year
Sports / fitness	High-energy countdown with team colors; dynamic shapes and movement
AI experience	Abstract digital particles or neural network visuals that signal "AI is working"
Brand activation	Product in motion, animated logo reveal, or looping brand-themed abstract background

Uploading and Applying Your Animation

In Foto Master Cloud → Assets, upload your MP4, MOV, or GIF file
Open the Workflow Builder and select the Animation step where you want to apply it
Click the Gear icon ⚙️ → Select an Animation → choose from My Assets
Set the animation type (Single, Random, or Timeless) and configure the outgoing trigger (Time, Touch, or Playback Ended)
Save and sync to FMX to test on the booth

Tip: For welcome/idle animations, use a Timeless type with a seamlessly looping video. For countdown animations, use Single with a Playback Ended or Time trigger set to the countdown duration.